Mark: thanks for the info on the ADB power that will really help make this much easier.

KnifeLord: I was planning on hooking up 3 different screens to 3 different laptops, old pre-G3 powerbooks to a custom acrylic cube. Goal is to keep on the low cost side of things, not sure what a early G3 desktop would cost but with the 3 laptops I'm trying to stay under $100, preferably lower.

oojacoboo: Would and early G3 or something along those lines be able to handle 3 displays with dif pics? I assume that would be quite a load. But I certainly do like the idea, especially the hexagonal box for more forward viewing. Also if I went down this road where should I look for cheap LCD's and how do these connect? (naturally through the different video cards but what type of connection am I looking for?) Also like the surge protector idea, certainly cut down on clutter with the laptop setup. I was also thinking of putting a router inside to cut down on networking wires.

Thanks for all the ideas! Still obviously in the planning stages but I'll keep you guys updated.

as far as cheap lcds, check ebay. I am sure that you can get a small lcd for really cheap. As for the g3 desktop, as long as you got video cards that were powerful enough, I think it could support it. However, I could be wrong here. I know it seems like alot of load but this is all that you would have running. I am not really sure though, as I have never had a g3 desktop except an imac and I think that it could have handled it with os 9 and better graphic cards.

The problem with lcds and ebay is shipping, and not the price of it. Many people do not know how to package LCD's properly, so make sure it is from a reputable seller, and hopefully someone who has sold a lot of electronics. You get what you pay for, but it can be a good place. You could always ask any of the MacMod crowd here if they have any extra LCD's.

I don't like poking holes, but what video cards are you going to use that are compatable with an early G3 beige. The units had built in video, and didn't have the 66mhz PCI slot. So you could pop in an earlier generation PC made video card, like a ATI Technology 4MB Video card (p/n ATI-3D-4MB-PCI), or possibly a ATI Technologies Mac MACH64 Video Card (VGA/DB15)(PCI), but those would never work. Never...

Or you could just get the Sonata SD 16MB Mac PCI VGA cardwhich was special made to add another display to a G3 or G4, in la la land! Man, have fun finding those cards. I wish these cards existed </blatant sarcasm>

I thought a little sarcasm could be injected into this thread, so I grabbed the syringe and bottle. I bet you can find a cheaper card, though I provided the link if you click on the Sonata if you cannot find any others.

Well, what about an old G4, eBay has a bunch, and theres always a possability apple stores around might have a few, they are trying to get off the shelves for new G5s... If you were able to rig up a new box (wood/enamel/ect.) And connect the screens to it, you should be able to get a reasionable videocard, that will run 3 screens.... How much space for this laptop-desktop-lcd item are you looking at (physical) and is it really just to run pictures? because it might take you 1000 bucks... thats a lot for 3 pictures/frames... is this going to sit on a table, on a desk, in some shelves, or maybe mounted into the wall?

Yeah even a low end G4 is out of my price range. If anyone wants to donate one for the mod your welcome to though I may have a bit of spare cash in a few weeks so I'll see what I can pull together, be it laptops or a ready to be fixed up PM.

Little update on the mod: While playing around with LCD's came across a pretty cool idea, a bit of tangent, but the results are going to be amazing. Wont give too many details yet ;), but once I finish I'll post the mod.

Hey,If you want a G4 Processer, I have a Logic Board from an old Powerbook G4 Ti. I removed the fan, the ram, and the phoneline in connector. But I dont really have anyideas for the rest of it right now. I still have the ram and the phoneline in, but the fan I needed to return to the previous owner of the machine (another one of the school's laptop's fans broke) So I could sell it to you for very cheep, I BELIVE it works, but the computer it comes from was ran over by a car. I know that its speakers and tackpad both worked, which gives me no reasion to belive that the logic bord wouldn't. So if you want it. I would say maybe $25 for the entire logic board (Not including RAM and Phoneline in), plus shiping and handling. You can name a price. If this would be helpful be sure to tell me.

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